Morning

Author's notes: I don't own any of the original characters nor the original Inspector Lynley Mysteries – they belong to Elizabeth George and the BBC.

Please let me know if I did something terribly wrong (rating, grammar, spelling...). Thanks!

Reviews and comments are very welcome!

Finally! Here comes the last day of the year, ending with the long-awaited New Year's Eve party Barbara is so nervous about. The new year will be a brand new chapter of their lives but for now they (mostly) enjoy the last remaining hours of their Cornish dream and (of course) the party.

(Sequel to the T- and M-rated series starting with Merry Christmas, previous episodes were Trip To Howenstow (T) and Butterflies (M))

You don't have to read Butterflies for continuation.

I'm posting this episode one by one (or two by two ;-) ) because some chapters still need to be revised but most of it is finished. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. It took a while because I wanted it to be perfect (or some such). And as a sideline I have to go to work again *sigh*, make myself a great weekend on a heavy metal festival \m/ ... AND am writing on another story inbetween. I have far too many ideas...

But now - enjoy!

Count down...

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10...

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It was midway through the morning of the final day of the year. Judith sat in the kitchen munching buttered toast and languidly reading the newspapers. Her mother and Isobel were bustling about somewhere in the house, guiding the servants and arranging things for the party this evening. Frederick was up too but kept himself hidden behind a book in the library to be out of the way of the busy people. Peter, Emily and Stephanie lolled about in the great study, which means they were into some mobile phone or internet matters. Judith could hear the hyperloudly playing rock music even in the kitchen. She nodded in time with it.

"That's incredibly awful." Daze moaned her comment on this noise when she entered the kitchen.

"They're still young, Daze, remember what we've listened to and what your father thought of it." Isobel, just a step behind, intervened.

"That's different..."

"Not at all!"

"Morning!" Judith said. " 'nother coffee? Just made..."

"Good morning, Judith. That's lovely. Your brother still isn't up?"

Judith grinned smugly. As far as she would tell from witnessing a night of their stay in St. Ives Barbara and Thomas would have to recover and regain some sleep. "Well, as far as I would tell..." she started meaningful.

Daze gave her a warning look to stop her telling any frivolity again. She had come to the opinion that her daughter had far too much pleasure in teasing the couple. But Isobel could imagine what Judith likely would have said and laughingly picked up the thread.

"They're truely potty about each other, aren't they." she asked with a genuine smile.

"Oh, and how!" Judith answered. "It was about time, if you ask me. They've spent far too much time creeping around each other. And now I think they couldn't be seperated anymore." Then she chuckled. "Barbara finally seems to accustom herself to all this." She made a vague gesture around. "And to him! She's even started mimicking his parlance sometimes."

Daze put down her cup of coffee and wondered aloud that she thought she would be the only person having recognised this. "Like he had started to swear." She made a dramatic gesture. "Such a bad mother I am. All my bloody attempts to teach him good behaviour went phut."

The three Ladies had started to giggle like school-girls when Thomas entered the kitchen.

" 'mornin', ladies. Well, what are you hens again giggling about?" he smiled at the women.

The three hens bursted out in laughter but none gave an explanation. Thereby Thomas could answer to himself that they had tattled again and it was probably about him again so he shook his head in amused disbelief.

When she regained her breath Daze asked where Barbara was and with a slight blushing Thomas just told her that she was still sleeping. He knew very well what had made Barbara tired. Or better who. They had been making love half of the night.

The elder ladies glossed it over and turned their attention back on the upcoming party so they left the kitchen to go on bustling about. Even Judith kept her mouth shut but enjoyed it silently grinning.

"You don't need to hide your raised eyebrows, Judith. I can see that." Thomas grumbled.

Half an hour later Barbara came down, still yawning. She was in her sweat pants and shirt and had put on her running shoes.

"You're up to sports?" Thomas asked and got up to get her a cup of coffee. On his way he gave her a gentle kiss before Barbara sat down.

Barbara nodded. "Too less exercise the last weeks. I need... Judith!" she blushed.

Judith had started grinning ever so smugly and now held up her hands in defence. "I wasn't saying anything!"

This time Thomas also could not suppress a grin while he put the coffe cup in front of Barbara.

Then he got himself another cup of tea. He was already wearing breeches and his italian riding boots because he wanted to do a little horse-riding as long as it was not raining. Barbara's eyes went after him and graced his tightly clad ass cheeks with an adoring look over the rim of her cup and she lost herself in thoughts about last night. Judith became aware of that and started to tease her again.

"I think he had done some work-outs lately. Muscled ass, isn't it?" she whispered. Being caught Barbara flushed.

"Indeed." she though whispered back. "And the thighs... whoopy!"

Judith fanned an imaginary fire down. "They will be hot to dance with!" she giggled.

Barbara looked shocked. "Oh, no, I don't dance, I..."

"Sure you will." Judith winked. "Look at those cheeks of his and think again!"

"Ladies, I'm not deaf." Thomas grumbled.

"Be honest, Tommy, you glamour boy. You've put those pants on just to present yourself."

"I was going to exercise Olafur, you cheeky one." Thomas asked Barbara if she also would like to ride. "On a horse, Judith," he added "and keep back whatever you had in mind!" he glared at his laughing sister. Even Barbara had to chuckle. But she would prefer to have a little run around the manor, or better down the long driveway and a little up and down the road and then perhaps later she would join him in the riding arena.

"And after that you'll join me and we assist each other preparing." Judith said. "Get dressed, hair-do to be done, make-up..."

"Bollocks!" Barbara rolled her eyes and looked at Thomas searching for support. He raised his arms in defence.

"I leave that to you, ladies. I see you in the arena." he kissed Barbara and left.

In the instant he was out of the kitchen Judith asked Barbara to hand her the package from Pan-Yong so she could have the dress they bought there secretly be ironed. The two women arranged to meet at about seven thirty in Judith's rooms to prepare themselves for the evening.

"You'll have to make him faint! Or propose!" Judith laughed.

"Oh, shut up, Judith." Barbara slightly panicked. Everything but this!

Judith grinned and patted her arm. "We'll see."

Then both seperated for their own businesses.

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